Northern Ireland

Orange Order Garvaghy Road parade plan branded ‘stunt designed to increase tensions’

Orangemen want to march through nationalist area during All-Ireland final on Sunday

nting and flags in support of the Armagh Gaelic football team playing in the All Ireland against Galway this weekend. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Bunting and flags on the Drumcree Road, Portadown in support of the Armagh Gaelic football team playing in the All Ireland against Galway this weekend. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
By Connla Young, Security Correspondent

Plans by the Orange Order to march along the Garvaghy Road during Sunday’s All-Ireland final have been branded a “stunt designed to increase tensions and cause division”.

Members of the order in Portadown want to walk through the nationalist district around the same time Armagh clash with Galway in the eagerly awaited All-Ireland decider at Croke Park in Dublin.

Drumcree was the scene of a bitter stand-off between Orangemen and their supporters and police in 1996
A bitter stand-off between Orangemen, their supporters and police in 1996

In a statement Orangemen have confirmed a new application has been made for a 3pm start on Sunday claiming it “will bring the least impact on the majority of the community that live there as most will either be away to Croke Park, or will be in clubs, pubs or at home watching and supporting their County, Armagh GAA playing in the final of the All-Ireland”.

Local Sinn Féin councillor Paul Duffy is set to meet with the Parades Commission on Wednesday.

“This application is a stunt designed to increase tensions and cause division,” he said.

“It is insulting and derogatory towards the people of the Garvaghy Road.

“The people of the Garvaghy Road have enjoyed 26 years of peace since contentious parades were prevented from going through the area.”

“They have worked to foster stronger and better cross-community relations with our neighbours and have no desire to return to the divisions of the past.”